Washing apparatus



Jan. 3, 1933. E. DAVIS WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed April 12, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l wanna Jan. 3, 1933. E. DAVIS WASHING APPARATUS OriginalFild April 12. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. i m

' \WENTDR Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITE STATES PA EN OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS,OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY INQ, FSYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WASHING APPARATUSApplication filed April 12, 1927, Serial No. 183,196. Renewed March is,1931.

This invention relates to washing apparatus and has for its object, anapparatus and uncoupled, and in the novel features and in thecombinationsand constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. 7

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a fragementary side elevation of a washing apparatusembodying my invention. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one of the vatsand the contiguous parts of the carrier and washing mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of thevats and the main washing machine mechanism. 7

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the vat and washing machinemechanism associated therewith.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of parts seen in Figure 5 showingthe universal joint between the carrier for the main washing machinemechanism and the body therefor This Washing machine apparatus comprisesgenerally, a series of vats each having a portion or section of washingmachine means or mechanism associated therewith, a complemental sectionor portion of the washing machine mechanism carried independently of thevats and means for moving the series of vats to bring the sections ofthe wash ing machine mechanism thereof successively in juxtaposition tothe complementalsection of the washing machine mechanism and means formoving the portion of the washing machine mechanism toward and from thevat in juxtaposition thereto to couple and uncouple the complementalsection of the main washing machine mechanism and the portion on thevat.

1 designates the series'of vats which move along suitable tracks 2 whichinclude upper,

and lower'horizontal runs, each .vat having rollers or trucks 3 movingalong the tracks and the tracks 2 being in the form of channels, theopen sides of whichopen inwardly, that is, the channels of the tracks oneach side of the vats face toward each other and the rollers 3 extendinto such channels. The vats are movable along the tracks by a carrierbelt or cable 4 which moves over wheels or pulleys 5 at opposite ends ofthe track, each vat 1 having a bracket 6 depending centrally from itsbottom through which bracket the cable 4 extends. The bracket is securedto the cable by suitable means as a set screw 7. The pulleys 5 areprovided with suitable cutouts 8 for receiving the brackets 6 as thevats are moving around the end portions of the track. One or the otherof the pulleys 5 is connected to a suitable source of power.

Each vat consists of inner and outer receptacles 9 and 10 respectivelywhich are spaced apart to form a chamber 11 between them, and the outerreceptacle 10 is formed with a depending neck or outlet conduit 12located at one side of the center thereof in order to pass by thepulleys 5 during the movement of the series of vats 1 by the cable Thewashing machine mechanism associated within each vat 1 may be of anysuit able form, size and construction, that here shown being of the typeshown in the Cowles located in the chamber 11, to a common intake 17located within the outlet conduit 12 and concentric therewith. Thisintake 17 includes a sliding or telescoping coupling pipe 18 projectingbeyond the lower end thereof and extending through a, packing gland 19in the lower end of the'intake 17. The sliding movement of the coupling18 is against the action of a spring 20. The packing gland includes aspring 21.

The section or portion of the washing machine mechanism includes a body22 movable toward and from the conduits 12 and 18 of the vat injuxtaposition thereto in order to make a coupling therewith and touncouple therefrom. The body 22 has an intake 23 arranged concentricwith an outlet 24, the inlet 23 being movable into and out of connection with the intake coupling 18 and the outlet 24 into and out ofconnection with the outlet conduit 12. The body is formed with anoutwardly extending flange 25 complemental to a flange 26 on the conduit12 and these two flanges are provided with coacting packing rings 27 and28 ontheir abutting faces. Also, the intake 23 and the intake coupling18 areformed with coactmg packing rings 29 and 30 on their abuttingfaces. The body 22 is here shown as carried by a piston 31 movable in a.carrier or cylinder 32 which is connected to a suitable source of poweras compressed air, through a pipe 33. The cylinder 32 is here shown asformed with trunnions 34 which are pivoted in a yoke 35 which in turn ispivoted at 36 to a base 37. The pivot 36 is arranged at a right angle tothe trunnions 34 so that the cylinder 32 and piston 31 have a universalor equalizing action as the flange 25 engages the flange 26. The rockingmovement of the yoke 35 is limited by suitable stops 38.

The intake 23 is connected by a pipe 39 to the outlet 40 of acirculating pump 41; the inlet of the pump 41 is connected by a pipe 42to the outlet 24 of the body 22. The pump intake is also connected, by asuitable conduit 43, to a suitable prime source of supply of fluid, andthe pipe 39 is also connected to branch pipes 44 by means of which thefluid can be pumped by the pump 41 to a tank or to some otherlocalitybesides the vat 1 in line with the body 22, the branch pipebeing controlled by a valve 45. -The conduit 43 may be provided with anywell known shut-off valve.

There are a plurality of these main washing machine sections, located ona platform 46 arranged below the upper run of vats 1 and the valve 45may be operated to cause the pump 41 of onemechanism to be connected tothe body 22 of one of the other mechanisms. By means of the valve 45,the pump 41 of one section on the platform 46 may be connected to pumpfluid into the vat coupled to another section on the platform 46.

It will be understood that in washing clothes in commercial laundries,the clothes are subjected to diflerent fluids as soaking water,suds'washing fluid, rinsing fluids, bleaching fluids etc. By means ofthe branch pipes 4 and the valve 45, thesystem is made flexible so thata vat after it moves out of registration with one washing machinemechanism may, if desired, be subjected to the same washing operation.at the nextstation. Suitable receivers for the clothes are located belowthe lower run of vats, these receivers being usually extractors 47.

1 In operation, the clothes after being sorted, classified and tagged orotherwise identified aretaken by the operator from a' table 48 andplaced in the vats 1 and the mechanism for actuating the cable actuatedto feed the belt one step. Then the valve 33 in each feed line 33 isactuated to cause the pistons 31 to be actuated to. carry the bodies 22into. connection with the conduits 12 and 18 of the vats in linetherewith, the conduits 18 yielding as the packings 27 28, 29 and 30come into engagement. The valve 45 is then operated to permit the pump41 to force the cleansing fluid through the pipe 39, intake 23, couplingpipe 18, intake 17 pipes 15, and ets 13, into the inner receptacle 9 ofthe vat 1. The suction action of the pump draws the water out throughtheoutlets' 14, chamber 11, conduit 12, outlet 24, and pipe 42. Thiscirculation of the water washes the clothes, or rinses them, or performsany other operation. I

After this operation has continued for the proper length of time, thevalves are operated to cut off the supply of water to the vat and todrain the water therefrom. The valves 33 are then operated to permit theair to exhaust from thecylinder 32 and hence, to uncouple the couplingbodies 22, of the main washing machine mechanisms, from the vats. Thecarrier is then caused to be actuated one step after which the operationis repeated. The actuation of the carrier one or moresteps brings thevats into registration with diiferent main washing machine mechanismsand also brings the vats 1 which have passed the main washing machinemechanism to the lower run of the belt where the clothes are dischargedinto the extractors 47, The vats are provided with suitable means asdumping covers for discharging into the extractors 47. This dumpingfeature forms no part of this invention, but the invention relatesprimarily to the coupling and uncoupling of the washing machinemechanism of each vat with a main Washing machine mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. A washing apparatus comprising a series of vats, each having 'aninlet and outlet for a washing fluid, means for moving the vatshorizontally, mechanism comprising a body having an inlet and an outletfor a fluid and means for forcing the fluid through the inlet andwithdrawing the fluid from the outlet, means for lifting and loweringthe body to carry the inlet and outlet into and out of connection withthe inlet and outlet of the vat in juxtaposition thereto.

2. A washing apparatus comprising a series of vats, each having an inletand voutlet for a washing fluid, means for moving the vats horizontally,mechanism comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet for the fluidand means for forcing the fluid through the inlet and withdrawing thefluid from the outlet, means for lifting and lowering the body to carrythe inlet and outlet into and out of connection with the inlet andoutlet of the vat in juxtaposition thereto, the vat and the body havingconcentric passages'and abutting end faces provided with packings aroundthe passages arranged to come into,

engagement, a carrier for the body and a universal mounting for the bodyon the carrier.

3. A washing apparatus comprising a series of vats, each comprising aninner and outer container, the outer container having an outlet, aninlet located within the outlet and a pipe leading from the inlet to theinner receptacle, an outlet from the inner to the outer container andmeans for circulating a fluid through the vat comprising a.

body having an inlet and outlet passage complemental to those of thevat, the body being movable into and out of coupling engagement with theinlet and outlet of the vat and pump means for forcing a fluid throughthe inlet and outlet passages of the body.

41. A washing apparatus comprising a series of vats, each comprising aninner and outer container, the outer container having an outlet, aninlet located within the outlet and a pipe leading from the inlet to thein ner receptacle, an outlet from the inner to the outer container andmeans for circulating a fluid through the vat comprising a body havinginlet and outlet passages complemental to those of the vat, the bodybeing movable into and out of coupling engagement with the inlet andoutlet of the vat, said inlets and outlets of the vat and body havingabutting end faces and the parts provided with one of said abuttingfaces being yielding and a pump for circulating the fluid through theinlets of the body and drawing it from the vat through the outletpassages of the vat and the body.

5. A washing apparatus comprising a series of vats, each comprising aninner and outer container, the outer container having an outlet, aninlet located within the outlet and a pipe leading from the inlet to theinner receptacle, an outlet from the inner to the outer container andmeans for circulating a fluid through the vat comprising a body havinginlet and outlet passages complemental to those of the vat, the bodybeing movable into and out of coupling engagement with the inlet andoutlet of the vat, said inlets and outlets of the vat and body havingabutting end faces and the parts provided with one of said abuttingfaces being yielding, a pump having a discharge pipe connected to theinlet of the body and an intake pipe connected to the outlet of thebody, a base and a carrier for the body connected to the base by auniversal joint.

6. A washing apparatus including a series of vats, each of said vatshaving fluid means for washing articles in the vat, mechanism forsupplying fluid to the vats, said mechanism comprising a movable elementhaving a part complemental with a' part of each of the vats and meansfor moving said element into and out of engagement with the vat and apump for circulating the fluid through the element and the vat when thesame are con nected.

7 A washing apparatus including an endless carrier having upper andlower runs, a series of washing vats mounted upon the carrier, meansassociated with each of said vats for circulating a fluid therethrough,a mechanism arranged below the upper run of the carrier, means formoving the carrier to bring the vats successively into registration withthe mechanism, said mechanism including an element having a surfacecomplemental with the bottom of the vats and being movable toward andfrom the vats to bring the complemental surface into engagement, andacir culating device for circulating the fluid through the movableelement and the circulating means associated with the vat when thecomplemental surface of said element and 1 out of engagement with a vatwhen the vat and the mechanism are in registration, anda circulatingdevice associated with the circulating mechanism for circulating a fluidthrough the movable element and the vat when so engaged.

9. A washing apparatus including in combination a washing vat; means formoving the vat horizontally; a body having inlet and outlet conduitstherein; complemental inlet and outlet conduits connected with thewashing vat; mechanism for moving one of said inlet conduits and one ofsaid outlet conduits into and out of connection with the other inlet andoutlet conduits when the vat is in proper position with respect to saidbody;

and means for washing the clothes in the vat While the vat is in saidproper position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in thecounty of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 28th day ofMarch, 1927.

ERNEST DAVIS.

